Article holding fixture



Feb. 8, 1944. G. J. ZETHMAYR v 2,341,496

ARTICLE HOLDING FIXTURES Filed May 25', 1942 HTTOEA/ fy Patented Feb. 8,1944 ARTICLE HOLDING FIXTURE Gordon J. Zethmayr, Bensenville, Ill.,assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 23, 1942, Serial No. 444,291

4 Claims.

This invention relates to article holding xtures and particularly to atray having a plurality of individual article receiving and retainingsockets.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and elcient articlecarrying tray having a plurality of article receiving sockets eachindividually adapted to yieldingly retain an article.

In attaining this object in one embodiment of the invention, as appliedto the handling of switchboard lamp shells on a lamp assembling machine,there is provided a tray for movement with a conveyor of the machinecomprising a base er bar having a row of sockets in one face forreceiving lamp shells `and a slot in another face intersecting each ofthe sockets at a side thereof. Entered in the slot is a coiled tensionspring which extends into each of the sockets, the spring being heldunder tension and attached at each end and at points intermediate eachsocket to the bar, thus producing individual spring portions therealongeffective in each socket to yieldingly retain the lamp shell insertedtherein between the socket wall and the spring portion with suflicientforce to prevent accidental removal during treating and assemblingoperations and while being carried in various positions on the conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appearfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theacompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan View, partly in section,of one embodiment of the article carrying tray of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line ll-l of Fig. 2,showing the method of securing the spring to the base or barintermediate the article receiving sockets of the bar; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a switchboard lampassembling machine showing the tray mounted on a conveyor thereof.

in the drawing, the novel features of the invention are embodied in alamp shell carrying tray I0 for use on a switchboard lamp assemblingmachine. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tray I@ comprises a bar or baseof suitable material, .in the present instance steel, of the desiredlength and cross sectional dimensions, and is provided with a row ofcircular flat bottomed sockets I2 in its top face, the diameter of thesockets being such that articles of circular cross section may be freelyreceived therein. Formed throughout the length of the bar III in a facethereof disposed 90 to its top face is a slot I3, which intersects eachof the sockets I2 a suitable distance below their upper open ends and atone side thereof (Figs. 1 and 3). Carried in the slot I3 is a helicallycoiled spring I4 formed with eyes il at each end. The spring I4, whileunder some tension in the slot I3, is attached at opposite ends to thebar III by pins I8 entered in apertures provided in shouldered ends ofthe oar and the eyes I'I of thespring. Intermediate each socket I2, thespring I4 is attached to the bar I0 by swaging the material of the bar(Fig. 2) at opposite sides of the slot, as indicated at S9, against thespring by means of a circular shouldered punch or tool 20, shown inbroken outline in Fig. 4. The material is preferably swaged against thespring I4 to firmly hold the spring at the points I9 but at the sametime it is such that the spring, after the removal of the pins I8, maybe longitudinally withdrawn from the slot I3 for replacement purposes.After assemblage of the tray I0, it is preferably given a zinc finish.

The attachment of the tensioned spring I4 at the points I9, it will beapparent, produces individual tensioned spring portions 2| extendingacross each of the sockets I2 at one side thereof (Fig. 1) which areeiective to yieldingly retain an articlevinserted therein between thesocket wall and the spring portion 2I with su'cient force to preventaccidental removal or displacement therefrom.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, in which a portion of a switchboardlamp assembling machine is illustrated, the tray IIJ is shown mounted ona conveyor chain 24, also shown in broken outline in Fig. 2. The chain24, at the point illustrated, rides on a rail 25 fixed to a pastecontainer 26, which also supports vertical guides 2'I for laterallyguiding the chain. At this point in the assembling of the lamps, a pairof tensioned paste applying fingers 23 move upwardly from the pastesupply indicated at 29 in the container 26 along an irregular path andWipe over opposite sides of a lamp shell 22 to apply paste thereto.Immediately thereafter, terminal strips (not shown) are applied to thepasted sides of the lamp shell 22 while still carried in the tray III.The tension of the fingers 28 in withdrawing from the lamp shell 22 issuch that if the shell was not positively held in its socket I2, itwould, at times, be Withdrawn therefrom by the tensioned ngers. Q Thetrays It) are positively advanced with the conveyor chain 24 by means ofvertical lugs 3% (Figs. 2 and 5) on the chain which are received inshouldered recesses 3| formed in opposite ends of the tray, thearrangement being such that the trays are advanced in abutting end toend relation.

From thev foregoing description, it will be apparent that a simple andefficient tray is provided for carrying and yieldingly retainingarticles in individual sockets during treating and assemblingoperations, while mounted on a conveyor.

While the features of this invention have been described in a structureortray'forcarrying particular articles, it should be understood. thatmodifications can be made and it is capable of other applications.

What is claimed is:

l. In an article holding tray, a base having socketsV in a face forreceiving articles and a slot in another face intersecting each of saidsockets at ay side thereof, and an elastic member in said slot extendinginto each of said sockets, said member being held'at, opposite endsvand" at points intermediate each socket to said base to produceindividual elastic portions therealong in each socket to yieldinglyretain an article inserted therein between the socket Wall and saidelastic member portion.

2. In an article holding tray, a base having a row of sockets in a facefor receiving articles and a slot in anothervface intersecting each ofsaid sockets at a side thereof, and a coiled tension spring in said slotextending into each of said sockets, said spring being pinned atopposite ends to said base and at points intermediate each socket by aswaging of the material of the base at opposite sides of the slotagainst said spring to produce individual tensioned flexible springportions thereof in each socket to yieldingly retain an article insertedtherein between the 'socket Wall and said spring portion.

3. In an article holding tray, a base having a row of sockets in oneface for receiving articles and a slot in and extending the entirelength of another face disposed at right angles to said first face andintersecting each of said sockets at a side thereof adjacent itsorifice, and an elastic member in` said slot extending into each of saidsockets, said member being held under tension at opposite'ends and atpoints intermediate each socket to said base to produce individualelastic portions therealong in each socket to yieldingly retain anarticle inserted therein between the socket wall and said elastic memberportion.

4. In an article holding tray, a base having a row of circular socketsin one face for receiving articles and' a slot in another face at anangle to said nrst face and intersecting each of` said sockets ata-sidethereof, and a coiled tension spring in said slot passing through eachof said sockets, said spring being held under tension at opposite endsandi at points intermediate each socket by a svvaging of the material ofthe base at opposite sides of the slot against said spring to produce.individual tensioned flexible spring portions thereof in each socket toyieldingly retain an articiev inserted therein between the socket Walland said spring portion.

GORDON J. ZETI-IMAYR.

